International Organization for Migration (IOM) has opened an immigration office building in Lowyaddo, a border town between Somaliland and Djibouti, with the specific aim of enhancing effective border control, cross-border knowledge and capacities at the countries’ intersecting national borders.

Funded by the Government of Japan, this immigration office which will house 17 immigration officers, will support and strengthen regional and national approaches to border management by supporting immigration officers to efficiently identify fraud, threats or latent risks and avert  irregular migration and related cross border criminal activities.

‘We appreciate and are indeed very grateful to the Government and the people of Japan for their generosity in that they are not only building the infrastructure of our immigration department but also enhancing its administrative capacity that will enable it to take appropriate actions to counter human trafficking, terrorism, illegal cross border and small arms smuggling,” said Mohamed Farah Adare, Deputy Minister of Interior and National Security.

The two storey building will provide a much improved working environment for staff and host immigration booths for passport examination and control, the IT server office for the storage of MIDAS (Migration Information and Data Analysis System) data, a training room, an office for the regional immigration director and migrant interview rooms to ensure efficient service delivery by Somaliland’s Immigration Department.

“Since 2007, Japan has consistently supported IOM efforts to strengthen the capacity of Somali immigration officials because we believe improved border management will contribute to the peace and stability of Somalia and its neighbours. We are pleased to see this assistance which originated from Japanese peoples’ goodwill was put to effective use so that the Somaliland Immigration Department can deliver honest and proper immigration services to its citizens and travellers as a professional and responsible institution,” said Tatsuo Arai, Japan’s Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti.

In addition to receiving a wave of migrants who trade across its corridor, Lowyaddo has developed a reputation as a conduit for irregular migrants in the Horn of Africa who attempt to cross the Gulf of Aden, in an effort to get to Arab countries in search of jobs, education, health care and other social amenities.

 “Thanks to this building, the personnel of the Somaliland Department of Immigration are now able to more effectively deliver integrated border management services which include passport examination, document fraud detection and entry visa issuance. Moreover, the border management software (MIDAS) that IOM has  provided will also create an additional barrier against smuggling and trafficking in persons, help combat organized crime, as well as contribute to smoother traffic passage through Somaliland-Djibouti,” said Henry Glorieux, IOM Djibouti Chief of Mission.

 “Today marks an important day for a good and continued cooperation on effective border management between government of Japan, Somaliland and IOM,  this  building will go along  in facilitating  the immigration department to deliver effective and efficient immigration services to the migrants travelling across the two borders,” said by Col. Mohamed Ali Yusuf, Commissioner of Immigration, Somaliland.

The office’s opening ceremony was also attended by Djibouti immigration officials further promoting the inter-agency and regional collaboration between the two authorities to achieve enhanced cooperation and coordination in ensuring security through effective cross border management.

For further information, please contact Stephen Matete at IOM Somalia, Tel: +254 714 636 701, Email smatete@iom.int